We've all read the infuriating stories in the press from around the country about how some pharmacies are refusing to fill women's prescriptions for contraception based on the pharmacy's or an individual pharmacist's religious objection. Denying women access to birth control , medication that only women use , is sex discrimination, and pharmacies have the responsibility to ensure that women are able to purchase birth control at their stores without added delay. Pharmacies should try to accommodate individual pharmacists with a religious objection so long as the pharmacy makes sure that women get their pills at the same pharmacy without added delay. This protects the health care needs of women and the religious freedom of individual pharmacy employees.

Access to safe and effective contraception is a critical component of basic health care for women. The refusals of pharmacies , state-regulated businesses with the responsibility to supply medication to their patients , should not be tolerated.